Barfield Launches its Colombian Subsidiary in Bogotá

MRO Americas, Miami, 13th April 2011 - In its aim to provide customer proximity, Barfield, a Sabena technics company, will be opening mid 2011 a component repair fast shop to service its customer Avianca-TACA’s A320 repair needs as well as the South American market.

Within the scope of its 10-year A320 component services contract with Avianca-TACA, Barfield will be opening repair facilities in Bogota to better service the group’s four airlines: Avianca, TACA, Aerogal and Ocean Air.

The shop scheduled opening is mid 2011. Within the scope of this launch Barfield Bogota has already been registered in Colombia.

This fast shop will initially focus on avionic testing and repair and at a later stage will expand capabilities to service a larger array of components. The shop will also provide its services to other operators in South America.

Barfield’s aim is to provide through this shop shorter repair Turn Around Time enabling operators to optimize their inventory requirements.

"This shop will be a fully owned subsidiary of Barfield Miami, a Sabena technics company and will benefit from the experience it has setting up and operating fast shops in close proximity to our customers. Barfield has been successful with this type of service through its Phoenix and Louisville shops," said Frederic Denise, Chief Operating Officer of Barfield.

"I am very pleased to see how our group has developed service proximity to our customers. The launch of our Colombian subsidiary, backed by Sabena technics’ group of experts, has all the resources required for it to be a success," said Christophe Bernardini, Sabena technics' Chief Executive Officer.

Barfield today consists of 250 employees across its US facilities in Miami, Phoenix and Louisville with a total turnover of $70 million. Its core businesses can be regrouped as follows: component repair & overhaul, airline programs, rotables & distribution and Ground Support Test Equipment (GSTE). Barfield is an authorized repair facility for more than 30 European original equipment manufacturers and major U.S. original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Barfield’s repair and overhaul capabilities include crew seats, radio equipment, oxygen equipment and accessories for Airbus and Boeing airliners, regional and business aircraft, and helicopters.

Sabena technics is a leading independent MRO (maintenance, repair & overhaul) provider of maintenance services to civil and military aircraft operators. The group operates under the brands Sabena technics, Sabena technics training, Barfield and equally benefits from a joint venture specialized in hydraulic repair named Hydrep. Our group employs over 3,000 persons across its 17 sites worldwide. Our services are organized into five major activities: Airframe services (which includes the activity VIP completion, by Sabena technics), Component services, Integrated services, Military services and Training services, based on the basic principle of meeting our customers’ requirements.